 "Who is Momodou Taal, Cornell student who left the US amid Trump's deportation crackdown?")
Momodou Taal, a student at Cornell University in the United States was informed that his student visa had been revoked due to his involvement in campus protests, which officials described as disruptive and hostile to Jewish students.
His legal team contested this, arguing that his participation in demonstrations was an exercise of free speech and not grounds for deportation.
Despite filing a lawsuit in mid-March to block his removal, a federal judge denied his request, effectively allowing the government to proceed with his deportation.
Taal later announced his decision to leave the US voluntarily, citing concerns for his safety and a lack of faith in the judicial system.
Who is Momodou Taal?
Momodou Taal is a doctoral candidate in Africana Studies at Cornell University who has been at the centre of a legal and political battle over student activism in the United States.
A dual citizen of the United Kingdom and The Gambia, Taal became known for his vocal support of Palestinian resistance and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
His activism led to disciplinary action from Cornell University and, ultimately, the revocation of his student visa by the US government.
Taal’s case gained national attention as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Following the ruling, Taal took to social media, writing, “Given what we have seen across the United States, I have lost faith that a favourable ruling from the courts would guarantee my personal safety and ability to express my beliefs.”
He further stated, “I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted. Weighing up these options, I took the decision to leave on my own terms.”
— Momodou ✊🏿 (@MomodouTaal) March 31, 2025
His attorney also voiced concerns, stating on X, “I feel like a stranger in my country. What is America if people like Momodou are not welcome here? Onward to the next fight.”
Why Taal may have been targeted
Taal had been previously suspended twice by Cornell University for his protest activities. One of the incidents that contributed to his suspension was his involvement in disrupting a campus career fair that featured weapons manufacturers. As a result, he was ordered to study remotely.
His social media activity also came under scrutiny. On the same day that Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, Taal posted, “Glory to the Resistance.”
He later reiterated his stance at a demonstration, stating, “We are in solidarity with the armed resistance in Palestine from the river to the sea.”
His statements drew sharp criticism from US officials, who argued that his activism posed a threat to national security and contradicted American foreign policy interests.
In a November 2023 interview with CNN, Taal dismissed the backlash against his statements, saying, “I think it’s quite racist, Islamophobic that before I’m allowed to have a view on genocide, I have to condemn a terrorist organisation.”
He added, “I can say clearly categorically I abhor the killing of all civilians no matter where they are and who does it.”
How Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters is faring
Taal’s situation is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to take action against international students participating in pro-Palestinian activism. The administration has argued that such protests align with support for Hamas and threaten US national security.
In January, Trump signed an executive order reinforcing the deportation of non-citizens who are considered adversarial to American foreign policy interests.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that at least 300 student visas had been revoked as a result of these policies.
Taal’s case was one of the most high-profile, but several other international students have also faced deportation orders, detentions, or legal battles over their right to remain in the US.
Among them, Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil was arrested in early March and is now legally challenging his detention . Trump publicly accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, though no direct evidence was provided.
Similarly, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student at Georgetown University, was detained but later had his deportation temporarily halted by a federal judge .
Another high-profile case involves Yunseo Chung, a Korean American student at Columbia University , whose legal team recently revealed that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked.
Meanwhile, Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University , who co-authored an opinion piece about the “Palestinian genocide,” was taken into custody but later had her deportation temporarily blocked by a judge.
Critics argue that the administration’s actions are an attack on free speech and a violation of students’ rights to express dissenting political opinions.
Supporters, however, contend that the measures are necessary to combat antisemitism and prevent foreign nationals from engaging in activities that could threaten US interests.
A voluntary departure or forced self-deportation?
While the US government framed Taal’s exit as a self-deportation, critics argue that the administration’s policies left him with no real choice.
The term “self-deportation” has been used by officials to describe cases where international students voluntarily leave the country after their visas are revoked rather than face formal removal proceedings.
Another international student, Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian scholar who also left the US under similar circumstances , told CNN, “I’m not a terrorist sympathiser. I’m literally just a random student.”
She expressed her hope of re-enrolling at Columbia University and finishing her PhD programme.
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